HI Kara, I know, playing in the creek was where my kids liked to go when we went to our campsite. I

We just got home from a family vacation where we went to Dollywood , "the Great Smoky Mountain's family fun vacation adventure with great shows, thrilling roller coasters, festivals, and kiddie rides" located in Pigeon Forge, TN and then to the NC mountains discount rental car seattle airport to camp in our tent for one night before heading back home.
We met my brother-in-law discount rental car seattle airport and our sister-in-law and their two girls at the hotel down the street from Dollywood. The hotel had a great deal where we could buy one day at Dollywood and get the second day for free! We went to the park each day at 9:30 AM and stayed until around discount rental car seattle airport 1:00 PM, then we went to our hotel to rest a few hours then we went back from 4:00-7:00 PM, when the park closed.
Since we went during the week the crowds weren't too bad and breaking up our time at the park made it alot more relaxing and manageable with young children. It was hot, but the park gives out free cups of ice water at any refreshment stand so we stayed hydrated and cool with plenty of water. Here are some highlights from our trip. (WARNING: lots of photos coming at you :) )
Barnstormer discount rental car seattle airport was a new ride for 2011 and it was like a big pendulum swinging back and forth. I knew better not to step foot on the ride since I can get sick swinging on a backyard swing! My hubby, son, my husband's twin brother, and niece went on it, but their stomachs were queasy when it was over.
Thunderhead was a big wooden roller coaster that was a very bumpy ride, fast and went way up and went down fast! I rode this twice and had a headache from being tossed around so much, but I survived!
OK, this is the most ridiculous picture of me (bottom left corner next to my daughter in the pink shirt) screaming and closing my eyes as we rode the Thunderhead, but I thought since my husband always laughs at it when he looks at it, maybe it will put a smile on your face too :) I survived this roller coaster and another discount rental car seattle airport one we rode by screaming and closing my eyes. My husband asked why I close my eyes the whole time and I told him I did not want to know what was about to happen! discount rental car seattle airport It's really not fun for me to see myself falling straight down on a coaster so I close my eyes in hopes I will see the end! My husband is in the white t-shirt, discount rental car seattle airport my son is in the blue t-shirt with his eyes closed and screaming (I wonder where he gets that from?), my husband's twin brother is in the brown shirt in the back next to his daughter. I was crazy enough to ride this again the next day to keep my sister-in-law company because no one else would ride it with her.
This was a fun wet ride as the riders can shoot water from their rafts, but then at different areas on land there are water guns so anyone can shoot at the people discount rental car seattle airport on the rafts! This was a family favorite!
Adventure Mountain was also a family favorite. We went on two different obstacle courses with harnesses attached to us and ropes. discount rental car seattle airport We were at different heights throughout the course. I'm not scared of heights, but I must say I was sweating quite a bit concentrating on not slipping while being so high in the air!
Here is a tower of one of 3 courses you can choose to do. To the left of the tower you can see the ropes going across that we went across. This photo shows just how high the courses were. The workers at this attraction were very impressed discount rental car seattle airport that our children did so well with the course. They kept saying they were so brave for being so young.
discount rental car seattle airport In the evening discount rental car seattle airport during the second day at Dollywood, it began to storm so we were not able to spend the last couple of hours in the park, so we all headed discount rental car seattle airport to the hotel's indoor pool and hot tub for a swim which is always a highlight for our children when we travel.
When the storm passed, we went outside to enjoy the hotel's little water park and pool. Our children discount rental car seattle airport had so much fun with their cousins and my husband and I looked at each other and said we could have spent two days at the hotel pool and saved lots of money :)
We hiked the Clingmans Dome Trail in NC, which is a 0.5 mile paved trail to the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains. The distance is short to get to the top, but the trail is very steep. Lots of work to go up, but worth it!
After we went to the Smoky Mountains we visited my husband's Aunt and Uncle near Asheville discount rental car seattle airport and then went to Marion, NC to my in-laws camp site. We celebrated our daughter's 7th birthday at the camp site by opening gifts and making S'mores by our campfire.
My son found crayfish in the creek and my father-in-law boiled them and they ate them. My son said there wasn't alot of meat in them. Yum! :) He found lots of big and small salamanders with his big sister.
How fun to go to Dolly world. I have alwayed wanted to go there. My husband s family lives in Nashville and Knoxville so we aren t that far away. Love the photo of you on the roller coaster:) S mores are my favorite camping food. So glad you family was able to get away for some fun time:)
Oh, what fun! I loved the picture of you on the roller coaster! We are giving my husband a beautiful fire pit for our back patio area on Father s Day, and the kids are more excited that we will be having discount rental car seattle airport s mores than they are about surprising their dad! I cannot believe it has been a year! I remember, because I believe I sent you a picture of Marin s birthday cake! Where does the time go!?? God bless!
What an amazing blessed vacation! I loved the family shots and the one on the Roller Coaster ROCKS! We LOVE to camp and can t wait to go back to Jellystone in August for the Luau! Glad you are back and enjoy your day! Mel
This photos are so so SO fun!!! Our kiddos would absolutely love this! But--honestly--the opportunity to catch salamanders would ve probably topped it all for our boys. LOVE that you camped with your crew...so many families have given up camping and it s such a great way to create memories together. Glad you re back! :) Love, K
Hi Tracy, what a great vacation for the entire family! discount rental car seattle airport You re a brave mama for riding the roller coasters!! I think vacationing with family is so important and for your children to spend time with their cousins is a blessing for them all!
HI Annita! OH a fire pit sounds like an awesome gift that will be enjoyed by many for a long time! What a special Father s Day for your family :) Yes, I remember you sending pics of Marin s cake a year ago! Time sure does go by so quickly! It s always great to hear from you as I have been blessed to have you as one of my first followers for my blog! Have a blessed weekend!
HI Kara, I know, playing in the creek was where my kids liked to go when we went to our campsite. I m glad my children will have camping memories since I never camped with my family while growing up :( My Dad was always working hard to support my family so it was hard to get away for vacation time and my parents aren t the camping type. But, I m glad to start the tradition with my crew and I realize it s a blessing discount rental car seattle airport to make memories this way.
How fun!!! We were just in Gatlinburg to visit the Aquarium. The kids saw the signs for Dollywood, but we opted out of that because we are going to the Amusement Park near our home (Cedar Point). We will have to think about doing that next time we are in Tennessee. So glad your adventures were so blessed!
I'm Tracy. I love my faith, family and on most days, homeschooling my 5 blessings. When I'm not busy baking cakes for my family or making memories discount rental car seattle airport in real life or dreaming I had a housekeeper or professional discount rental car seattle airport chef, I enjoy documenting a slice of Smith life in blog land.